Database Mirroring with multiple websites

Hi, it's real strange that there are currently no questions in the whole of the SQL Server section. That has to change!

Anyway, here's a scenario. There's a website we are developing, which we expect to have a high load. the site is being developed with ASP.NET 2 & SQL Server 2005 and will probably be complete some time early next year. However, we've already started thinking about deployment issues as these will greatly affect the development.

Because it will be accessed from a few places around the world, for performance, security and resilience, the suggestion is to:

deploy the ASP.NET website on difference servers around the world (3-5) deploy at least (3-5) SQL Servers (each ASP.NET website mirror would be attached to a local sqlserver). put all the servers into the same active directory. This will enable us to run the SQL Server in Windows Authentication mode and therefore reduce possible authentication attacks

Issue #2 has given us a few headaches. The aim was for each ASP.NET to be attached to a SQL Server - for performance sake. It is also critical to keep the data in the two servers synchronised. Initially, (SQL 2k) we thought of using log shipping. However now, we are considering database mirroring to achieve this (SQL 2k5). I've been doing some research to understand the process. It seems to me now as contained in the two links below that we cannot use database mirroring and at the same time maintain a link between the local ASPNET and its local database server because if the local database server is in fact a mirror, it will be inaccessible:

http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/3440511
http://www.sql-server-performance.com/sql_server_high_availability.asp

There is a mention in these articles that we could use a database snapshot to get around this problem. This would mean however, that we would be unable to write to the local database (if it is in mirror mode), which is a requirement of the application (basically, we would want any database server to be able to write).

We do not think log-shipping would satisfy the requirement either though, because it is important to have guaranteed (SAFE mode) commitment of data to the database where an update or insert is performed.

Are there any solutions that anyone can think of around this (hopefully by using SQL 2K5)?

Thanks

Oz

You are correct. If you need to keep all the servers in "update" mode neither the log shipping nor database mirroring are good solutions. You should be using merge replication for your task. There is plenty information about it already in SQL Server 2000. One possible source to start with is at http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/1438231.sql

Database Maintenance Plan - Can't select Remove Files Older Than .

Hello,
Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before.
Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank,
can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, with
no change.
Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
Hi
Have you tried using the tools on a different machine or against a different
server?
John
"DHood" wrote:

> Hello,
> Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before.
> Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank,
> can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, with
> no change.
> Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
|||hi dhood,
i have the same problem!
is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
greets
jeff
"DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> Hello,
> Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> before.
> Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> blank,
> can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> with
> no change.
> Thanks in advance for any help or insight.

Database Maintenance Plan - Can't select Remove Files Older Than .

Hello,
Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before.
Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank,
can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, with
no change.
Thanks in advance for any help or insight.Hi
Have you tried using the tools on a different machine or against a different
server?
John
"DHood" wrote:
> Hello,
> Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before.
> Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank,
> can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, with
> no change.
> Thanks in advance for any help or insight.|||hi dhood,
i have the same problem!
is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
greets
jeff
"DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> Hello,
> Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> before.
> Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> blank,
> can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> with
> no change.
> Thanks in advance for any help or insight.|||No, I definiately had the problem before I upgraded to SP4. I just tried the
SP4 upgrade in hopes that it would fix the problem.
"j.goines" wrote:
> hi dhood,
> i have the same problem!
> is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
> because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
> with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
> greets
> jeff
> "DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> > Hello,
> >
> > Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> > before.
> >
> > Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> > Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> > Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> > Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> > blank,
> > can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> >
> > Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> > with
> > no change.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
>
>|||I have tried it against another server, same problem. I have tried accessing
the problem server from the tools on another server and everything looks
normal. So it appears to be something specific on that machine.
"John Bell" wrote:
> Hi
> Have you tried using the tools on a different machine or against a different
> server?
> John
> "DHood" wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before.
> >
> > Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> > Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> > Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> > Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank,
> > can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> >
> > Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, with
> > no change.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help or insight.|||Hi
It certainly seems that a dll or somthing is corrupted on that machine. Did
you remove the shared dlls when you un-installed the client tools?
John
"DHood" wrote:
> No, I definiately had the problem before I upgraded to SP4. I just tried the
> SP4 upgrade in hopes that it would fix the problem.
> "j.goines" wrote:
> > hi dhood,
> > i have the same problem!
> > is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
> > because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
> > with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
> >
> > greets
> > jeff
> >
> > "DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> > > before.
> > >
> > > Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> > > Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> > > Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> > > Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> > > blank,
> > > can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> > >
> > > Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> > > with
> > > no change.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
> >
> >
> >|||No, I didn't remove any files manually. Do you know what and where they are?
"John Bell" wrote:
> Hi
> It certainly seems that a dll or somthing is corrupted on that machine. Did
> you remove the shared dlls when you un-installed the client tools?
> John
> "DHood" wrote:
> > No, I definiately had the problem before I upgraded to SP4. I just tried the
> > SP4 upgrade in hopes that it would fix the problem.
> >
> > "j.goines" wrote:
> >
> > > hi dhood,
> > > i have the same problem!
> > > is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
> > > because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
> > > with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
> > >
> > > greets
> > > jeff
> > >
> > > "DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > > news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> > > > before.
> > > >
> > > > Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> > > > Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> > > > Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> > > > Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> > > > blank,
> > > > can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> > > >
> > > > Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> > > > with
> > > > no change.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
> > >
> > >
> > >|||Hi
When you un-install it usually prompts to remove shared files. You may want
to see what dlls are loaded when you start the application.
John
"DHood" wrote:
> No, I didn't remove any files manually. Do you know what and where they are?
> "John Bell" wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > It certainly seems that a dll or somthing is corrupted on that machine. Did
> > you remove the shared dlls when you un-installed the client tools?
> >
> > John
> >
> > "DHood" wrote:
> >
> > > No, I definiately had the problem before I upgraded to SP4. I just tried the
> > > SP4 upgrade in hopes that it would fix the problem.
> > >
> > > "j.goines" wrote:
> > >
> > > > hi dhood,
> > > > i have the same problem!
> > > > is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
> > > > because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
> > > > with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
> > > >
> > > > greets
> > > > jeff
> > > >
> > > > "DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > > > news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> > > > > Hello,
> > > > >
> > > > > Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> > > > > before.
> > > > >
> > > > > Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> > > > > Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> > > > > Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> > > > > Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> > > > > blank,
> > > > > can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> > > > > with
> > > > > no change.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >|||See if this helps--
If you profile when on that form you should see the following:
xp_instance_regread N'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE',
N'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\MSSQLServer', N'BackupDirectory'
I was getting the same problem that you were, and discovered that this proc
was returning an error b/c the registry key did not exist. I entered key and
a valid value and the problem went away.
I know several people have posted on this same issue, so I hope someone gets
some value out of this.
JIM BOUTIT
MCSE MCDBA
"John Bell" wrote:
> Hi
> When you un-install it usually prompts to remove shared files. You may want
> to see what dlls are loaded when you start the application.
> John
>
> "DHood" wrote:
> > No, I didn't remove any files manually. Do you know what and where they are?
> >
> > "John Bell" wrote:
> >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > It certainly seems that a dll or somthing is corrupted on that machine. Did
> > > you remove the shared dlls when you un-installed the client tools?
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > "DHood" wrote:
> > >
> > > > No, I definiately had the problem before I upgraded to SP4. I just tried the
> > > > SP4 upgrade in hopes that it would fix the problem.
> > > >
> > > > "j.goines" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > hi dhood,
> > > > > i have the same problem!
> > > > > is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
> > > > > because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
> > > > > with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
> > > > >
> > > > > greets
> > > > > jeff
> > > > >
> > > > > "DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > > > > news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> > > > > > Hello,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> > > > > > before.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> > > > > > Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> > > > > > Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> > > > > > Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> > > > > > blank,
> > > > > > can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> > > > > > with
> > > > > > no change.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks in advance for any help or insight.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >

Database Maintenance Plan - Can't select Remove Files Older Than .

Hello,
Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before.
Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank,
can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, with
no change.
Thanks in advance for any help or insight.Hi
Have you tried using the tools on a different machine or against a different
server?
John
"DHood" wrote:

> Hello,
> Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this before
.
> Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is blank
,
> can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4, wi
th
> no change.
> Thanks in advance for any help or insight.|||hi dhood,
i have the same problem!
is it possible that this problem exists since you updated to sp4?
because in my case all sql2000sp4 have this problem, sp3 not...
with mangerstudio from sql 2005 this problem is gone, but others appear...
greets
jeff
"DHood" <DHood@.discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:0563B8C1-891B-4AF1-B49C-6EF3E39BA511@.microsoft.com...
> Hello,
> Having a strange problem and hoping that someone else has seen this
> before.
> Have an up and running SQL Server 2000 (no problems that I can detect).
> Trying to create a maintenance plan to backup the databases each night.
> Start the maintenance plan wizard and get to the "Specify Backup Disk
> Directory" screen and the "Remove Files Older Than" drop down box is
> blank,
> can't select "Weeks", "Days", etc.
> Have re-installed the Enterprise Manager tools and upgraded to SQL SP4,
> with
> no change.
> Thanks in advance for any help or insight.